RSPCA: Grimsby men jailed for sickening campaign of wildlife crime
Trio captured themselves setting dogs on foxes and badgers
Three men have been jailed after capturing themselves on camera committing sustained and horrific levels of animal cruelty in a case the RSPCA’s investigating officer described as “the most disturbing” he has handled in 23 years.
Mark Wesley Smith (pictured below right), Liam Patrick Ardito and Gary Cannon, all from Grimsby, admitted setting their dogs on a trapped fox in a sickening cage fight on the town’s golf course, where they had posed as pest controllers.
The trio also filmed themselves and took photos as they laughed and joked, while their dogs tore wild animals, including other foxes and badgers, to pieces in front of them.
During one clip, an unknown man – who’s identity is being sought by the RSPCA – holds up an injured fox and nods to the camera, before laughing as he throws the stricken animal back to the waiting dog that was set upon it originally.
RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison, from the charity’s Special Operations Unit, said warrants carried out at the homes of the three men last August revealed one of the biggest hauls of graphic animal cruelty imagery the Society has ever come across.
A collection of more than 600 carefully catalogued folders on seized computers contained thousands of photos that showed a raft of animal cruelty, including Ardito (pictured below left, putting a live fox into a bag) stealing wild Sparrow Hawk chicks from their nest, while others show the men digging into fox dens and setting their terriers onto terrified foxes.
All three were given 16 week jail sentences today after they admitted a total of 30 charges – which also included keeping premises for use for dog fighting – between them. Smith and Ardito were banned from keeping dogs and birds for life, while Cannon was given a lifetime ban on keeping dogs.
Inspector Harrison said: “This is the most disturbing case I have investigated in my 23 years with the RSPCA. I have spent the last 14 years with our Special Operations Unit and can say that we have never before discovered such a comprehensive collection of images showing the very worst acts on cruelty imposed on wild mammals and to the dogs continually used to fight them.
“Some of these images will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“This case is nothing to do with legitimate pest control or lawful ‘country pursuits.’ It is about three men who went out to deliberately inflict terror and suffering on wild mammals on a regular basis.
“They revelled in the cruelty they inflicted and kept thousands of images for repeat gratification. They had no regard for the welfare of the dogs they used as their tools of cruelty. There can be no excuse or mitigation for such depraved behaviour.”
District judge Daniel Curtis expressed his horror at the shocking levels of “organised, methodical cruelty against defenceless disadvantaged animals.”
He added: “The offenders displayed sickening pleasure in the torture and death of wild animals.
“All participants engaged in infliction on wild and their own animals cruelty to an extent and level beyond that envisaged by the sentencing guidelines.”
The RSPCA launched their investigation, with the assistance of the League Against Cruel Sports and Humberside Police, after obtaining intelligence on the three men and their illegal activities. Warrants were carried out at the homes of the three men on 8 August last year, when a number of cameras, computers and mobile telephones were seized.
A search of Ardito’s home also revealed a pit that could be created out of wooden boards and carpets, for use to stage animal fights.
Detailed analysis of these items provided a detailed timeline of the trio’s campaign of cruelty. Among the photos were images of Ardito scaling a tree and lowering sparrow hawk chicks in bags after he had taken them from their nests. Others show Smith brazenly posing with a dead rook and curlew, as well as with a dead fox.
Smith, 53, of Broadway, admitted 13 charges, including causing animal fights between his dogs and foxes and a badger and causing unnecessary suffering to the animals, in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He also admitted possession of dead wild birds (a rook and a curlew) and a trap that could be used to catch wild birds, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Ardito, 33, who is currently in custody for unrelated matters, admitted 12 charges including causing animal fights between dogs on foxes and badgers and causing unnecessary suffering to foxes and dogs, both contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He also admitted taking Sparrow Hawks from the wild, in breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and keeping premises for use for an animal fight contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Cannon, 27, (pictured above left, posing with dead foxes) who is also currently in prison for unrelated matters, pleaded guilty to five charges. These included causing an animal fight between a dog and a fox, causing a fight between a dog and a badger and causing unnecessary suffering to foxes. All charges he admitted were in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Inspector Harrison added: “The RSPCA is investigating an increasing amount of cruelty to wildlife through the use of dogs to attack and kill wild mammals. This increase is of great concern and we would urge the public to contact us if they know anything about such cruel criminality.”
Mark Randell, Head of Intelligence at the League Against Cruel Sports, passed on some of the initial intelligence to the RSPCA on the three men.
He said: “This is a proud day for the League and RSPCA. We are really pleased to have been able to offer evidence in this case, helping secure these convictions.
”Anyone who wishes to report animal cruelty to the RSPCA can do so by calling 0300 1234 999.
The RSPCA is only able to investigate cases such as this and bring them before the court thanks to generous support from members of the public.
If you would like to help the RSPCA, you can give £3 now by texting HELP to 78866 (Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message).
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